Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. Ephesians 1:4-8: (NLT)
Ever wonder why he did it? Why did God create us at all? It was clear that he knew we were going to be trouble. Even before he made the world, even before we were created he decided on the plan to save us. He knew we were going to sin. He knew we were going to be a mess. Yet, he did it anyway.
Why? It would have been so much easier to move on to another plan. Less mess, less suffering, less pain. Jesus wouldn’t have had to die. We wouldn’t be hurting each other all the time. Why?
Do you think it’s because God, who is love, saw all that and said “They are worth it.”? That love, the love we cannot comprehend, was the driving force behind investing in the messiness. The love that is so big, it had a plan from way before we were a twinkle in his eye. The plan was to love us no matter what.
I can’t fully comprehend that love. I can think it in my head but not totally understand it in my heart. Actually, if I am honest even my head has a hard time with it some days. But here is what I know. I am called to imitate it. As a recipient of this boundless love, I am called to imitate it in my world every single day. I am called to love in the mess; to ease pain and suffering, to share hope.
There is only one way to do that. I have to reflect on the gift I have been given by his grace and kindness. Reflecting on that slowly changes me so that I begin to do the things I cannot comprehend.